Hello everyone, had to take Bluebell back to the vet yesterday as her joints were very bad (very stiff and isn't walking properly) and now her back left leg seems to be bad too. Told the vet all about it and she has said that Bluebell will need to go in Friday to be sedated and have an x-ray and also have samples taken from her joints. She said it could be arthritus, or lyme disease or her back left leg could have a problem with her knee cap, but she will have a look at that when she is knocked out. Poor little Bluebell, right before xmas too.....

Hope little Bluebell will be feeling better soon:flwr: and that the vet will be able to get her sorted on Friday

WoodHaven

17th December 2008, 05:12 PM

Have they started her on antibiotics just in case it is lymes? Has she ever had a lymes shot? If not, a blood test can usually confirm lymes.

emmawright

17th December 2008, 05:19 PM

no she is not on antibiotics yet, the vet said she would be on them after the anesthetic though and she would test for lyme then. she is currently on rimadyl for 7 days. she has never had a lymes shot. i have always given her frontline for fleas/ticks, but in the last few months she has had a few ticks.

frecklesmom

17th December 2008, 05:38 PM

Did the Vet say why she wasn't doing a blood draw for Lymes first? :confused: Entering the joints seems so invasive if there is a chance a blood draw would give the answer. Is she a specialist in joint disease? If it were me I'd sit back and think a bit b4 undergoing this and possibly get a second opinion esp. if your Vet now isn't specialized. :xfngr: there is a simple answer.

emmawright

18th December 2008, 10:40 AM

well i have been thinking why can't she take a blood sample first to test for lymes, but its so difficult because i don't want to phone up and tell them how to do their job, but maybe thats me being silly...

Cathy Moon

18th December 2008, 12:49 PM

I don't think you're silly for questioning your vet's plan; to the contrary I think it is good to question the vet - I would question the plan too. I would ask to have the blood test for Lyme immediately. Then if it turns out to be Lyme, she can be treated for it, and avoid the other procedure altogether.

If it is not Lyme, then I would take her to another vet for a second opinion before letting anyone take a sample from her joints. I haven't heard of a vet doing this before. I would also ask for a referral to a specialist from the second vet.

emmawright

19th December 2008, 02:42 PM

bluebell went to the vet this morning, i did question the vet and i am pleased because she said that x-raying would be jumping ahead and she instead took blood and has tested for lyme disease, so she said she will call me when hey get the results, although she said that apparently sometimes it can come back negative even when its positive. i have to keep a diary for when bluebell is in pain or is limping. she also gave me an extra 7 days worth of rimadyl. have to wait and see what the results are now but i am pleased she didn't have to be sedated and have joint taps.

Claire L

22nd December 2008, 12:03 PM

Hi Emma, so sorry to read that poor little Bluebell is unwell. I hope whatever ails her can be diagnosed quickly and treated successfully. Give her a gentle hug from me and my girls :hug::hug::hug:

Cathy Moon

23rd December 2008, 01:28 AM

I've been thinking about you and Bluebell lately - hoping she's better. :xfngr::xfngr::paw::paw::paw: